Two of Canada’s biggest private-sector unions are coming together this Labor Day weekend, and they kicked off their meetings with a downtown Toronto march signaling they’ll fight to preserve Canadian telecommunications jobs.

They are worried about the possible entry of U.S. giant Verizon Communications Inc. into the Canadian wireless space, which is dominated by three big domestic incumbents.

The unions, in town for their final conventions as separate entities before officially merging Saturday, marched in Toronto’s financial core with signs reading “Canadian technology, Canadian jobs! No to Verizon.”

Unifor, as the merged Canadian Auto Workers and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada will be known, will represent more than 300,000 workers in at least 20 economic sectors. Some of their members work for Canadian telecom giant BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada unit. Read More »

About Canada Real Time

Canada Real Time provides insight and analysis into what’s making news in Canada, a country punching above its weight on the world stage thanks to its vast resources and strong banking sector. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, we take a look at developments in fields ranging from business to politics to culture. You can contact the editors at canadaeditors@dowjones.com